The red dot world is an exciting one. Well, at least when it comes to red dots for handguns. They’ve become common and popular, and companies are racing each other to make the latest and greatest. We’ve seen the field grow with innovative entries from Holosun, enclosed emitters from Aimpoint, and mini optics are popping out left and right. One of the most innovative optics out there is the Sig Romeo2.
The Romeo2 is a bit of a genre-defying optic that comes in three variations. The variations are mostly in regard to the reticle. There is a three MOA red dot, a 6 MOA red dot, and a circle and dot option. Our test sample utilized the in-the-middle-of-the-road option with the 6 MOA dot. Like everything Sig, you get tons of features, including the MOTAC system, which puts the optic to sleep when left still.
What makes it different?
Modularity is the key to the success of a great many things. In the gun world, it’s what has kept the AR-15 relevant decades after its introduction. The Romeo2 is the first time I’ve seen a pistol-oriented red dot described as modular. How is it modular? Users can set the optic up into one of three different configurations.
You have the standard, open-emitter design. It’s similar to every other optic out there for handguns. You can add a metal shroud that, for a slight increase in weight, grants you a ton more protection. Finally, you have a shroud as well as a polycarbonate rear lens and filler. This allows you to have an enclosed emitter. Shooters can swap configurations fairly easily, but honestly, it’s best to pick the one that works for you and keep to it.
Enclosed emitters allow for a greater degree of protection from the environment. Rain, snow, and stuff like that can find their way between your emitter and lens and kill your dot’s capabilities. I never bought this until I finally manned up and shot in the rain, and yeah, it’s a big issue. The downside is that they tend to be bulky and a little heavier than open emitters.
The lighter open emitter is easy to use, standard in its design, and lighter. Some have better speed with an open emitter, but that’s never been the case for me. An open emitter reduces bulk, and reduced bulk always helps with concealment.
With the Romeo2, there is no need to pick. Try either one out and see what works for you.
Installing the Romeo2
The Romeo2 uses the Sig Pro footprint, which has become standard in the last few years for Sig pistols. If you decide to go enclosed emitter, you need to install the optic to your gun first. The enclosure covers your installation screws. Sig includes a Fix-it stick-like device to make sure you torque everything down with ease.
Attaching the shrouds is simple, and the same tool makes it easy to tighten the shroud onto the frame. Drop the polycarbonate rear lens on, attach the correct shroud, and boom, we have an enclosed emitter optic. I went this route since my P320 is typically used for competition and range time and not for concealed carry. I want the extra reliability and don’t mind the size.
I zeroed the optic initially at 10 yards, then moved back to 25 yards to confirm and adjust. The turrets are wisely placed outside of the enclosed portion of the optic. The included tool has a flathead screwdriver that makes it easy to make those adjustments. Adjustment graduations are done in 1 MOA.
The adjustments are just barely tactile. They aren’t super clicky but can be easy enough to manipulate and use. I zeroed it quite quickly and got dead on with a supported position.
The brightness controls are recessed and tough to push, but that’s an okay problem. This keeps adjustments from being made when the gun is being carried. It’s easy for buttons to get hit on your body or holster. That’s not a problem with the Romeo2.
Blasting Away With the Sig Romeo2
I had two concerns about the Romeo2. First, what would happen when moving from different environments? Would it fog up internally? It’s not nitrogen purged. Luckily, Florida has extreme weather shifts seemingly daily. I brought the optic out of a warm home into a cold environment without issue. I zeroed it in the rain and shot it at temperatures as low as 33° F without issue. On that same 33° day, the sun rose, and it reached 76° F, and again, there were no issues.
Second, does this modular option actually seal the optic? Well, it did fine in the rain, and the Romeo2 has an IPX7 rating. I dunked it while attached to my gun and let it sit for ten minutes. I exposed the optic to a blast of pressurized water from a hose, and still, no ingress. It dealt with dust, rain, and water without issue. Snow is a nonstarter, so I apologize. You have to ensure there is no moisture inside the optic when you put it together.
How is the clarity with two lenses? Surprisingly the optic and dot are both remarkably clear. The polycarbonate rear lens is crystal clear, as are the front lenses. The Romeo2 is clearer than the Romeo1, which was already an ultra-clear optic. The big 6 MOA dot is easy to see and a near-perfect circle.
Tossing Lead
The Sig Romeo2 delivers. It’s super easy to use. Put the dot on the target, pull the trigger, and boom, the bullet hits the target. The big dot is easy to see and get on target. Admittedly in my dry fire practice, I wished the dot was smaller because I was close to my small target, and it seemed to obscure it. At the actual range, this isn’t an issue.
The brightness settings allow for a very bright red dot. Too bright sometimes. The upper settings of the red dot will work fine on the brightest of days. I don’t have a desert to test it in, but it seems bright enough for high noon in Iraq. There are 12 daylight settings and three night-vision settings. The optic uses a CR2032 with a spring-loaded battery door. The optic lasts 25,000 hours at a medium setting.
The reticle doesn’t have any noticeable distortion or lag when moving quickly from target to target. It remains clear, easy to see, and never flittered, fluttered, or failed throughout several hundred rounds.
I used the optic in numerous different light situations, be it live or dry fire. I faced the sun, had the side behind me, and on both sides. There were no issues with a disappearing dot or a severely distorted dot.
The screws that hold the optic to the gun and the screws that hold the shroud to the optic remain unmoved over hundreds of rounds and in various environments.
Parting Shots
Sig has themselves a winner. The Romeo2 is a duty-ready and capable red dot that can be easily used in a multitude of environments. It’s the first modular optic on the market and provides shooters with one helluva rock-solid red dot. The clarity is unmatched in my experience. The dot is easy to use, and the emitter is clearly high quality and capable in dynamic environments. I’d be curious to see who else follows Sig’s footsteps with modular mini-red dots.
Is the Sig Romeo2 for you? If so, let us know below!
